Useful information on the Ponte della Maddalena in the province of Lucca, history and legend of the valuable architectural work that unites the banks of the Serchio river in Borgo a Mozzano.
History
The Ponte della Maddalena, better known as the Devil's Bridge following an ancient legend, is located along the Via del Brennero on the left towards Abetone, near Borgo a Mozzano.
The era of construction dates back to the period between 1046 and 1115 when the Countess Matilde di Canossa was in power, able to exercise a strong influence as well as power in this area and throughout the Garfagnana.
What we see today, however, is the result of a reconstruction completed by Castruccio Castracani, great lord and leader from the elegant Lucca, in the period between 1305 and 1328.
The bridge has the characteristic classic medieval aspect but with some important differences: the arches are asymmetrical with the central one very wide.
Legend
The legend of popular tradition that makes it better known as "the devil's bridge" tells of a bricklayer who, having started building the bridge, was taken by fear of not being able to finish the masonry for the day set as the end of the works .
So it was that, in order not to pay penalties and other very heavy consequences very usual at the time, he made a pact with the devil asking him for help to complete the work.
The Devil willingly agreed to finish the bridge in one night but in return agreed that he would go to the soul of the first human being who ventured to cross the bridge.
The building manager immediately had a great deal of remorse, so much so that he decided to talk about it with a friar from the area who gave him the brilliant idea of having a pig cross the bridge first.
The Devil was so fooled by this variant that he had not foreseen and was forced to withdraw by making the previously stipulated pact null.
